"Action film "Delivered" delivers a chance to South El Monte Teens"

Michael Madison and Linda Nelson

The film “Delivered” is cutting edge. The producers Linda Nelson and Michael Madison of NelsonMadisonFilms.com, have two features under their belts, but this time, they took full advantage of a few aspects of both technology and social networking. First of all, “Delivered” was shot with The Red One, a digital camera which challenges 35mm celluloid resolution and delivers a magically pristine image. Second, rather than the usual cattle call process which demands renting a space, reams of paper work, headshots to keep track of and hours of time, they had actors upload audition sides on Facebook. And finally, in addition to the talented union and non-union cast and crew, they included some unlikely members, teenagers, from South El Monte High School. 

Of bringing these young, inexperienced high school kids on board a professional project, Linda Nelson, company co-founder and producer, declared “Teaching is really important to us. Young people are the future of the industry. Everyone knew everything about what was going on. They brought all these fresh ideas to the table. My daughter and I both feel very attached to giving back.” Linda has lived all over the world from London to Lebanon and L.A., and she has seen people who have and people who do not. Her daughter Jennifer is a teacher in the South El Monte School system. Though it is actually located 10 miles Northeast of L.A. in an industrial community in the San Gabriel Valley, it is in Los Angeles where it was recently reported that the drop out rate has climbed to a staggering 34.9%. Many of South El Monte’s multi-racial student body are from economically challenge backgrounds. According to their 2007-2008, “School Accountability Report Card” 84% of the student body qualities for free/reduced price student lunches. These young people need opportunities.

Because “Delivered” was being shot under the guidelines of a Screen Actors’ Guild (SAG) Ultra Low Budget agreement, Nelson and Madison were allowed to have a group of cast and crew which were both SAG and non SAG. Jennifer Nelson was the architect for a successful endeavor, the Specialized Secondary Program for its Theatre Arts and Design Academy (TADA). Chief among the goals is to “to increase entry into college and enable students to establish careers in the entertainment industry.” TADA’s grant had recently been renewed.

NelsonMadisonFilms brought in seven students and two TADA alumni and the teacher. A Sag Ultra Low Budget is still a big film, bigger than a student production, and often these film sets allow university interns to witness a film in the making for college credit because an extra set of hands or a gofer can come in handy. That was not the case with “Delivered.” Michael Madison and Linda Nelson gave the students much more than an opportunity to be on a set. For their efforts the TADA students receive valuable experience, course credit, a reference and a difficult to obtain and much coveted film credit; any of their names can be found in the IMDb. Each had an actual job which they carried out under the facilitating eye of their teacher, Jennifer who filled the position of set designer. The two returning TADA crew grads Martin Ferrer and David Salas who have been working for two years handled grip and lighting and the latter also got an onscreen credit because he performed as the “pick up driver.” The students on this project? They filled key positions: first assistant  camera was held by Rosie Roch; Nancy Fregoso and Tiffiny Anguiano who also got screen credit for two appearances; script supervisor, Sarahy Iniguez; grip, Gerald Estrada and production assistant by Ryan Demarast.

These students, through NelsonMadisonFilms and the TADA program were able to not only enter the realm of an industry whose doors are extremely challenging to enter but also given a way to learn and do with a few industry veterans: Toshi Toda (director of“The Eighth Samurai”); Alana Stewart (2009 documentary “Farrah's Story”); Robert Rusler (“Babylon 5”)

“Delivered” is an action flick whose upcoming promo reads that it is “about a returning Iraq war veteran who gets caught up in an art theft ring.” Though it isn’t due out until December of 2011, the marketing team, as expected with this genre, is already debating the use of catchy trios of nouns: “A girl, a gun, and a car.” or “Redemption, Betray, Morality.” Also as expected, the producers Linda Nelson and Michael Madison have gone with the trajectory of 21st century’s latest technology. Therefore it is a great surprise that they have expanded social networking from the often make-believe world of the intangible internet to deliver a real world chance to a few interested and deserving high school students. Perhaps this is could be an industry model for the future.

Source: One on one interview with Winchinchala and Linda Nelson September 5, 2009
 

Photo Credit: Nancy Fregoso (graduating Senior)

Photo: (L-R) Chris Kanchananon (professional crew); Gerald Estrada (graduating Senior); back, Tiffiny Anguiano (graduating Senior off to college); Jeanette Steiner, Linda Nelson; Sarahy Iniguez (graduating senior off to college); David Salas (graduated Tada! two years ago and working); Ricky Fosheim(professional crew); Martin Ferrer (graduated two years ago and working); Rosie Roch (see above for credits).